Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-10-01
e BOYS IN BLUE.

St. Louis Being Filled to its Utmost Ca
pacity-Kansas Grasshopper Badges Con-
spicuous i'm the Throng.
ST.. LOUIS, September GA national
salute from Camp Washington hera!ded the
dlawning of day and aroused the army OF
visitors and the committees whose duties
called them to the early trains. The clouds
that had gathered early Sunday evening
drifted over the city, but fine mist damp
ened the atmosphere this morning and
gradually collected into steady, disagreea-
BILE rain, which continues at this writing.
The first trains of the early morning brought
more warriors, more visitors and
many women and children. The
west poured in its great crowds
as steadily as the rain leaked through
the clouds, and Kansas with her grasshopper
badges came in force, joining Nebraska's
corn badged fellows at the camp
at Washington Park. The gray
haired warriors and sturdy farmers
filed from the depots with grip in hand and
blanket thrown over their shoulders, ask
ing for tent, while the women and child
rem followed behind. The gloom of the day
was dispelled by the shrek of the fife and
beat of the drum, while lively airs from
many bands indicated the spirit that was
wrapped up in the blouse spangled with brass
buttons and copper badges. The Pacific
slope had scarcely settled down before the
nearest west swarmed in with Colorado,
Arkansas, New Mexico and Texas. Iowa and
Missouri contingents reported many men
and announced the coming of thousands
more. Several hundred have reported
from Pennsylvania. Early in the morning
Kentucky escorted their department COM
mander to his headquarters and then moved
out to the tented field. Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois quickly passed through the streets,
seeking shelter and greeting friends and
comrades. In the tents groups of men as
sembled, protected from the rain, with heads
together reviewing the past and drifting into
"reminiscences of the long ago terrible
struggle. The jovial shout betokens re-
hinder of some camp frolic and many
stories follow. Camp life surely brings old
| times back, and such days as this are in
light contrast to the cruel weather
| experienced in the Shenandoah
valley and many other campaigns. With
solid streets to march upon, the mud scarce
| ly thick enough to splash, the warm air is
! damp and and gloomy enough to remind but
| not so deep or heavy as to mar or hinder the
pleasure of the gathering.
By noon the railroads had brought in TO-
! 600 citizen soldiers, and the search for old
|
Many a brother or a friend waited at the
train or camp the coming of one whom he
had not seen since the grand review at
Washington. The Kansas camp have ar
| ranged their tents in groups and marked
them for the different states, so that the
! member of Kansas G. A. r. post might
| rest in his regiInental tent.
w. J. Ramage, commander of the depart
ment of Tennessee, and A. s. Graham,
commander of department of the Gulf,
arrived this morning with their stats and
small escort. New York delegates have for
mally opened headquarters at the Southern
hotel and announced the candidacy of Gen.
eral Slocum as commander in chief. Regu-
lar delegates have reported from the depart
ments of California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Florida, the Gulf, Maine, Missouri, Nebras-
ka, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode
Island and Washington territory. General
Phil 81. Sheridan will not be here.